Providing free education for all schoolchildren
June 2015
Introduction
One of the greatest myths perpetuated by the Government is that Ireland provides free education for all
children. Barnardos’ School Costs Survey, approaching its 10th year, has repeatedly shown this is very
clearly not the case. Not only is there huge pressure on parents every year to fund school books,
voluntary contributions, stationery and bus passes (among other costs) but the lack of national
guidelines mean there is huge variation depending on where you live and which school you attend.
Furthermore, cuts to the capitation grants paid to schools over the last five years have meant school
resources are stretched and parents are being asked more and more to step into the breach – either by
directly funding their child’s costs or through fundraising.
Parents tell us year after year the hundreds of euro they have to find to ensure their child can get an
education. This puts huge pressure on mums and dads. Inevitably low income families face the
greatest challenges footing the bill, so already disadvantaged children are at even greater risk of failing
to fulfil their potential. This is grossly unfair and something as a nation we should be ashamed of.
Barnardos has found that a relatively modest investment (in light of the country’s improving fiscal
circumstances) could guarantee free primary and secondary education for all children. The impact of an
inclusive, supportive education systems reaches far beyond school grades. It means all children,
regardless of their background are given the same opportunity to learn and thrive.
The Government has indicated that Budget 2016 will see an Exchequer surplus for the first time in a
number of years.1 Now is the time to support families who are struggling under the financial burden of
sending their child to school and to invest in the future of Irish children.
Why children need a free education
Education is the key to opening the door which leads out of poverty, disadvantage and inequality.
Children have a right to education.2 This right is enshrined in the Irish Constitution, which guarantees
State funded, free primary education for all children.3 Under the Education Act (1998) the State
commits to providing education for every child in the State and recognises economic and social
disadvantage prevent students gaining an education.4 Yet education in Ireland is not free. The cost of
sending a child to school rises each year and the financial burden placed on parents is not equitable.
All parents recognise the importance of education but many parents can’t afford to pay what it costs to
send their child to school. Parents want their child to have all the advantages in life that education
brings and so many are forced into debt in order to give their child equal access to what should be a
freely available, human right.5 All children deserve a level playing field from which to progress into
adulthood with the same opportunities as their peers, regardless of their parent’s ability to pay.
1
th
Minister for Finance (Michael Noonan), Dáil Éireann, 28 April 2015
United Nations, (1989), Convention on the Rights of the Child
3
Constitution of Ireland, Article 42.4
4
The Education Act 1998, (51)
5
Barnardos, (2014), School Costs Survey
2
1
Investment in a child’s education not only benefits that child but also the whole of society. Educational
disadvantage is closely linked to income inequality. People who receive an education can command
higher incomes and contribute more towards our economy. Beyond income there are many benefits to
a free education system being available to all children. Education plays a key role in the development of
a child’s cognitive, social and emotional skills. Evidence shows that education has a strong effect on a
child’s social outcomes and is a key policy in tackling health, crime and other social problems.6 In short,
an investment in a free education is an investment in a better society for everyone.
Cost of free education
Barnardos has compiled a set of costs that are not covered under the current education system. These
costs make up the bulk of what parents have to pay at the start of each school year. To provide a free
education system the Government should fund;
6

School books It is estimated the total cost of the school book industry in Ireland is €60 million.
Of this, the Government currently funds a School Book Scheme to the tune of €15 million each
year. A further €5 million once-off funding was allocated in the 2014/2015 school year for setting
up and running school book rental schemes in all primary schools. Therefore, to ensure every
child has free text books an additional €40 million in exchequer funding annually is required.

Extra school fees and contributions Voluntary contributions and paying for classroom
resources have been the norm in Irish schools for many years. Far from voluntary, these fees
can vary drastically from school to school. Barnardos School Cost Survey 2014 suggests
parents are currently paying around €89 million in voluntary contributions and €38.5 million to
pay for classroom resources across primary and secondary schools.

School transport More than 100,000 primary and secondary pupils avail of the Government’s
School Transport Scheme. Despite Government funding of €163.5 million parents still have to
pay €100 per primary pupil and €350 per secondary pupil to subsidise the Scheme. It would
cost in the region of €27.4 million to make the School Transport Scheme free to all.

Restore capitation grant levels Capitation grants are paid to schools on a per pupil basis.
These grants are to fund the general running of the school. Since 2010 these grants have been
cut by around 15% per pupil putting immense financial strain on schools. Restoring capitation
grants to 2010 levels would cost €35.2 million taking pressure off school resources and making
sure children have the right environment in which to learn.
OECD, (2013), Education Indicators in Focus- 2013/01 (January)
2
Cost of Free Education
2014/2015
Current
Exchequer
Funding
Additional cost to
make Primary
Education free
Additional cost to
make Secondary
Education
free
Additional cost to
make education
free for all
children
Free
School
Books
Removing
Voluntary
Contributi
on
Free
Classroom
Resources
Free
School
Transport
Restoring
Capitation
Grant
Level
Total
€20m
€0
€0
€163.5m
€287m
€470.5m
€20m
€42m
€19.5m
€5m
€16.7m
€103.2m
€20m
€47m
€19m
€22.4m
€18.5
€126.9m
€40m
€89m
€38.5m
€27.4m
€35.2m
€230.1m
Conclusion
2015 marks the tenth year of Barnardos’ School Costs Survey. The last decade in Ireland has included
some of the most prosperous years in our history and some of the most depressing years of recession
the country has experienced. Throughout it all there has been a persistent myth – the myth of free
education. Education in Ireland is not free but Barnardos believes it should be. Ireland is emerging from
a recession, with the Government expecting an Exchequer surplus of at least €1.5bn in next year’s
budget. Yet at the same time the number of children in poverty is increasing. The latest figures show
that 23,000 additional children fell into poverty in 2013. Currently approx. 12% (nearly one in eight)
children live in consistent poverty. Now is the time to invest in children and their education and realise
children’s constitutional right to free primary education.
Recommendations:
 Uphold a child’s constitutional right to free primary education by committing in Budget 2016 to
invest the extra €103.2m required to make it reality for all children.
 Commit to investing €126.9m to make secondary education free for all children within next 3
years.
3
Appendix A
Pupil Numbers7
A.1 Number of Primary School Pupils
2010/2011
2011/2012
Primary School
509,652
516,458
Pupils
% Annual
Increase
-
1.3%
A.2 Number of Secondary School Pupils
2010/2011
2011/2012
Secondary
356,107
359,047
School Pupils
% Annual
Increase
-
0.8%
2012/2013
526,422
2013/2014
536,317
2014/2015*
547,043
2015/2016*
557,984
1.9%
1.9%
2%
2%
2012/2013
362,847
2013/2014
367,178
2014/2015*
372,686
2015/2016*
378,276
1%
1.2%
1.5%
1.5%
*Estimated figures
7
Department of Education and Skills, http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Key-Statistics/
4
Appendix B
Detailed Costings
B.1 School Book Costs8
Item
Total Annual Cost
Primary & Secondary School Books
2014/2015 Exchequer
Funding
€20 million
€60 million
Funding Required
€40 million
B.2 Extra School Fees & Contributions9
School Type
Primary School
Secondary School
Voluntary
Contribution Average
Cost per Pupil
€75
€125
Total
Annual
Cost
€42m
€47m
Classroom Resources
Average Cost per
Pupil
€35
€50
Total
Annual
Cost
€19.5m
€19m
2014/2015
Exchequer
Funding
€0
€0
Funding
Required
€61.5m
€66m
B.3 Transport10
School Type
Primary School
Secondary School
B.5 Capitation Grant1112
School Type
Primary School
Secondary School
Number of Pupils
Availing of Scheme
49,700
63,900
Annual Fee Per Pupil
€100
€350
2010 Rate
2015 Rate
€200
€345
€170
€296
2014/2015 Exchequer
Funding
€91.7m
€71.8m
Cost of Restoring
2010 Rate per
Pupil
€30
€49
8
nd
2014/ 2015
Exchequer
Funding
€191m
€96m
Minister for Education (Jan O’Sullivan), Ceisteanna- Questions- Dáil Éireann, vol.227, 2 April 2015
Barnardos, (2014), School Costs Survey
10
th
Minister of Skills, Research and Innovation (Damien English), Ceisteanna- Questions- Dáil Éireann, vol.851 & 852,26 May 2015
11
th
Minister for Education (Jan O’Sullivan), Ceisteanna- Questions- Dáil Éireann, vol.864, 26 May 2015
12
th
Minister for Education (Jan O’Sullivan), Ceisteanna- Questions- Dáil Éireann, vol.447, 6 May 2015
9
5
Funding Required
€5m
€22.4m
Funding Required
€16.7m
€18.5m
Appendix C
Comparisons with EU1314
Primary School
Item
EU 21 Average
Ireland
UK
Sweden
Funding per Pupil
€8,482
€8,520
€9,857
€10,295
Free School Books
-
No
Yes
Yes
Free School Transport
-
No
Yes
Yes
EU 21 Average
Ireland
UK
Sweden
€9,615
€11,502
€9,649
€10,938
Free School Books
No
Yes
Yes
Free School Transport
No
Yes
Yes
Secondary School
Item
Funding per Pupil
-
13
14
th
OECD, 2011, Education at a Glance; http://www.oecd.org/edu/Education-at-a-Glance-2014.pdf, [accessed 27 May 2015]
th
European Commission, 2015, Eurydice; http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/index_en.php, [accessed 27 May 2015]
6